War Hero

This is very interesting and its glad to see some research happening. The mental health of services personnel is being affected by the current operational climate combined with under resourcing and an increasingly inflexible working regime. Add in the seemingly continual need to change and move for change sake and I'm suprised more personnel arent suffering. I wonder if there would ever be a survey or study of family members as well as they suffer as much.

War Hero

"Our results indicate that adherence to a clear and
explicit policy on duration of each deployment may
have beneficial effects on mental health. Overstretch
in the UK armed forces may have consequences on
problems at home, and deterioration of psychological
health may be more apparent in those directly exposed
to combat."

War Hero

The trouble is though that the report itself, doesnt really say anything. It suggests that tempo "may" affect mental health, but does little more.

PTSD as a subject is worthy of debate, and it is good to see the BMJ looking at it but in subsequent debate it more often ends up either misrepresented, misinterpreted or ends up desending into a slanging match.

There is still no reliable work that explains why some people are affected and some are not, why two people can experience the same event and react differently.

Rarely do we address an unpalatable truth that service with the Army increases dramatically your chances of being participant in unpleasant things often on repeated occasions under highly stressful conditions.

LE

The majority of GPs do know what PTSD is but perhaps under a different name (Victim stress, survivor guilt etc...).

This matter needs more press coverage and also other veterans affairs especially of those being medically discharged - they LOSE their military treatment and if they do not have a dedicated doctor/CPN/Psychologist they lose out and fall by the wayside!

LE

For a Reservist view, check out the recent report (June 2007) in the British Journal of Psychiatry: "Explanations for the increase in mental health problems in UK reserve forces who have served in Iraq".

It's subscription only, but a good read if you can get hold of a copy. Nothing startling or new there, just recognition that Reservists are affected more by Ops than equivelent Regulars, and that something should be done (as it has been, oddly enough, with the Reserves Mental Health Project in Chilwell).

One outstanding quote from it, though (and apologies to the BJP, whose copyright this undoubtedly is):

"Several studies have reported a possible association between reservist status and mental disorders (References). Our findings support this association, and this paper proposes explanations that might account for the higher risk of mental ill health in reservists when compared with their regular comrades following a major deployment."

In other words, the TA attracts nutters. Who'd have thought it, eh? Not me, nor the little voices in my head that tell me what to do next...........

ADC

I'd like a better definition of what was interpreted as combat. As a former attendee at CS there were a good number who were not teeth arm but had ended up with PTSD for various experiences.

Is a cook, for example, who never leaves camp but has to put up with frequent bombardment classed as in combat? What about those who have come after whatever contact to pick up the pieces? What about clerks who come out from camp to fill in the gaps for a patrol or two?

The reality is nobody knows. It could be anything subliminal, auditory, aulfactory, visual etc. PTSD can also be brought about by a series of fairly minor stresses without relief or down time. This means that people who deploy or work in stressful areas may not need to have encountered one significant event, but lots of "less" significant ones.
There is also a huge stigma attached to PTSD as its a mental health issue which makes people uncomfortable.
I find it incredible btw that a GP didn't know what PTSD was? I would have his registration checked if I were you!
The more research published on this subject the better, even if it adds only .00000001% more information than we had before we will all be better off.

Hi, I'm looking for the outrage merrygoround, its like a bandwagon but just goes around in circles.

ADC

My pet theory for the problem these days is based on how few of us actually serve. How do you talk out the experiences when you're ready? I believe, in my humble opinion, it was far easier to be understood in days gone by when so many more had served and experienced teh same sort of situation.

Down at the RBL over a few beers or 10?

It seems to me the reservists are suffering more than the regulars at present but I may have misunderstood some of what I've been told or read.

Swinger

PTSD isn't recognised by some GPs, friend of mine is in a really bad way, went to his GP. GPs reply went something like, Not another one, I had an 80 y.o. the other day & i'll give you the same advice, I gave him - Pull yourself together!!

I have had problems since 91, had 2 breakdown, saw psyhco therapist for 2 years & was only diagnosed with PTSD last year by an Indian Doctor who helped kids after the tsunami, she knew the symptoms.

War Hero

PTSD isn't recognised by some GPs, friend of mine is in a really bad way, went to his GP. GPs reply went something like, Not another one, I had an 80 y.o. the other day & i'll give you the same advice, I gave him - Pull yourself together!!

I have had problems since 91, had 2 breakdown, saw psyhco therapist for 2 years & was only diagnosed with PTSD last year by an Indian Doctor who helped kids after the tsunami, she knew the symptoms.

LE

Given the turn-around for some troops and the levels of action, the present situation is probably comparable for some to WWII.
My old dad had his tanks "brewed up" under him 3 times in the Western desert and twice was the only survivor. He lost more mates in Sicily and in Normandy/Falaise gap. After 5 years of war he was physically and mentally knackered leaving the Army C5 or something in April 45. [I have his Soldiers Record and Pay Book in front of me - very difficult to decypher as it's in tatters and almost black with the detritus and shite of theatres of war - and it just says "Discharged due to not meeting Physical requirements" [His back and neck were black with bits of schrapnell] - nothing about his mental state. He flew into rages and woke up shouting for years. As a boy I could not understand why. Like most of his generation he just got on with life as best he could. My Aunt told me I did not know what he had gone through and it was only years later that I found out. As years went on his mental wellbeing improved with time.